Few in Washington are questioning the wisdom of sending aid to war criminals

The Syrian government and the rebels fighting to overthrow it have committed war crimes, according to a United Nations investigative report, Reuters reports.

“We have identified both parties as guilty of war crimes and of course a greater number and of bigger variety from the government side,” Karen AbuZayd, one of two UN commissioners told Reuters.

The report finds that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has committed war crimes including murder and torture of civilians as a matter of policy. The Syrian rebels have committed war crimes that include executions and torture, but on a smaller scale.

“We have many instances reported to us where the anti-government forces have executed prisoners. They say they don’t have detention facilities and are not based in one territory and can’t take care of them. This is a war crime,” Paulo Pinheiro, the lead commissioner said.

The report calls on the UN for greater action, given its finding of gross violations of human rights. The Security Council could refer the case to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute the perpetrators, but since several members support either side in the Syrian conflict, the measure would undoubtedly be vetoed.

The Western media has been mostly silent on the fact that the US has been sending support to groups that have committed war crimes. Rebel militias continue to receive both lethal and non-lethal aid in their quest for regime change in Syria from the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and NATO allies.

No doubt, the "on a smaller scale" spin was probably inserted to give cover to the countries backing the rebels.

Larry

Yes, you know everything and the Raimondo trained seals applaud your every drink of Kool Aid…

mojo

Although UN is one of the US and EU employed institutions, doing as they are told and within the time the UN have lost is dignity as an independent and United entity of the world, as well as its moral and understanding in terms of judgments without any prejudices. Yet UN within the years has become an instrument used and abused by those (US and EU) whom have found all kind of criminal activity conducted by their employed , therefore UN is no longer mutual in its actions and act as an partial institution.

Do you remember the Oil for Food scandal, where the high ranking UN officers were stealing Iraqis people money and US so as EU new about it all along. Do you remember when Milosevic died in the hand of UN ICC. That was then and this now, The Syrian government been saying for last 14 months that they have changed the Syrian constitution asking for the oppositions to joining the changes by start talking and come to a conclusion, the Syrian president have said publicly and many times that he is willing to resign if the Syrian people will, he simply referring to an election where these oppositions are welcome to be part of the process. Yet such matter to be even considered by the opposition.

Instead , we all witnessing the fact that mercenaries from Saudi Arabia, Libya, Turkey, Jordan, UAE, Afghanistan are invited by the West to joining in and fight the Syrian government and the Syrian people whom disagree with these savages. And now all of the sudden the Syrian government is committing war crime…? We all have seen the footage of these barbarians killing people, it is documented by these savages all over the internet. Here, one thing is for sure, this Hillary Clinton, Saudi Arabia, Turkish, UAE, the Jordanian, the David Cameron of England war is lost, so UN needs to have something when Syrian people start celebrating their victory over these savages, UN is obligated toward its employer to have something said now for future use wanting to prosecute those whom are fighting for Syrian peoples freedom, UN needs to show its support and solidarity to Saudi Kingdom and Hillary Clinton for a job well done by starting another war in middle east so that UN have something do.